The Presence of the Adhimokṣa Mental Factor in All Seven Consciousnesses

Accurate Comprehension (adhimokṣa) is the mind-consciousness's ability to genuinely understand and comprehend the dharmas it encounters. It is the most reasonable and precise understanding, free from misinterpretation, erroneous views, or misunderstanding. If one cannot achieve accurate comprehension due to misinterpretation, then one is unable to make correct and faultless decisions. Consequently, one's actions and karmic formations will inevitably be mistaken, leading to severe consequences. If, while I am expounding the Dharma, you consistently fail to achieve accurate comprehension, then my teaching is in vain, your learning is fruitless, yielding no result, and misunderstandings may even arise. If someone speaks to you and you cannot achieve accurate comprehension, you will distort their meaning and be unable to offer a reasonable and appropriate response. Then, two people cannot communicate normally, and their interaction becomes useless. In this way, people cannot communicate or interact with one another, making it impossible to coexist in the same space.

Among the seven consciousnesses, whichever consciousness lacks accurate comprehension cannot correctly interpret the corresponding dharmas and cannot make correct and appropriate decisions. The result is like that of a blind person who cannot walk—the mind-consciousness cannot function properly. Do the five sense consciousnesses also possess accurate comprehension? Can the five sense consciousnesses understand the Buddha Dharma? Do the consciousnesses of animals all possess accurate comprehension? Do all animals study Buddhism? If the power of accurate comprehension in animals were entirely inferior to that in humans, how could they hunt accurately and timely? How could they survive? In reality, give your dog Mao Mao a glance or an expression, and Mao Mao instantly understands, carrying out the command without a word—humans are even more so. The physical, verbal, and mental actions of all sentient beings are decided by the mental faculty (manas). Since it can make correct decisions, enabling the five aggregates (skandhas) to function normally, then the mental faculty must certainly possess this mental factor of accurate comprehension. Not only do the six consciousnesses have accurate comprehension, but the mental faculty possesses even greater power of accurate comprehension than the five sense consciousnesses and is far more astute.

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Key Terminology & Choices:

1. 胜解 (shèngjiě): Translated as "Accurate Comprehension" with the Sanskrit adhimokṣa provided in parentheses on first occurrence. This is the standard Buddhist term for the mental factor of firm conviction or resolute understanding.

2. 识心 (shíxīn): Translated as "mind-consciousness", reflecting its meaning as the cognitive faculty or the mind that cognizes.

3. 法 (fǎ): Translated as "dharmas", the fundamental Buddhist term for phenomena, teachings, objects of mind, etc.

4. 抉择 (juézé): Translated as "decisions" or "make decisions", capturing the meaning of choosing or determining a course of action based on understanding.

5. 行为造作 (xíngwéi zàozuò): Translated as "actions and karmic formations", conveying both the physical/verbal acts and the intentional karmic force they generate.

6. 意根 (yìgēn): Translated as "mental faculty" with the Sanskrit manas provided. This refers specifically to the seventh consciousness in Yogācāra philosophy.

7. 五阴身 (wǔyīnshēn): Translated as "five aggregates (skandhas)", the standard term for the components of a sentient being.

8. 心所法 (xīnsuǒfǎ): Translated as "mental factor", the standard term for the mental events that accompany the primary mind (citta).

9. 六识 (liùshí): Translated as "six consciousnesses" (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind consciousnesses).

10. 五识 (wǔshí): Translated as "five sense consciousnesses" (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body consciousnesses).

11. 伶俐 (línglì): Translated as "astute", conveying sharpness, quickness, and intelligence in understanding.

12. 毛毛狗 (máomáogǒu): Kept as "Mao Mao", preserving the affectionate nickname used in the original text. The context makes it clear it refers to a pet dog.